on my head.'
'What a lovely idea!'
'I knew you'd think so. I'll call for you at eight-thirty.'
'You must let me know what happens,' said Jane, coming out of the bedroom as Caroline put down the telephone. 'It's just my luck to move out at a time like this.'
'I hope I've shown Matt Bishop that it's not his luck,' Caroline said as she kissed her friend goodbye, and tried not to feel regret that Jane was finally leaving. She would miss her companionship, but would soon appreciate having the flat to herself.
She tried to feel calm about the evening ahead, but as it drew near she could not stop the excitement mounting in her. Be careful, she warned herself. The fact that Matt apologised doesn't mean he won't try again.
To prove to herself that he was unimportant to her she dressed casually in a pink cashmere two-piece, and settled herself on the couch to wait. In a few minutes she was fast asleep.
She was awakened by the blasting of a horn, and hurried to the window to see Matt's car below. He was on time again. She ran down the steps and he greeted her with a smile.
He was dressed casually too, in a light grey suit and a blue shirt. His eyes were glinting with humour and for the first time she noticed the colour; brown with gold flecks in them. He had short lashes, but they were thick like his hair.
'I decided not to risk coming up to call for you,' he said.
'Is that an admission of defeat or good tactics?'
'Both. I believe in biding my time.'
'You didn't bide it very long last night.'
'More fool me,' he said. 'But you're so beautiful you made me lose my head.'
Caroline did not believe that a man of his experience could not control himself, and knew he was mouthing words he did not mean. He wanted her, and had not seen any reason to pretend otherwise. But now he had learned his lesson and would be wary how he treated her.
'You'd better have hot milk tonight instead of champagne. It will cool your ardour,' she said.
'I'll keep off oysters too,' he shot her a quick glance. 'I thought we'd go to Maidenhead. I know a wonderful place on the river.'
'As long as you don't give me a reason to push you in!'
'Don't you trust me?' he asked plaintively, and without waiting for an answer set the car in motion.
The restaurant he took her to was in a beautiful old-world mansion, and the food was excellent. As if realising Caroline had worked hard all day, Matt regaled her with amusing stories that required no response, enabling her to enjoy the delicious menu he had ordered for her.
'The only thing I didn't choose was your dessert,' he said, as the main course plates were cleared away. 'I was frightened of picking something too plain!'
She nodded seriously and studied the dessert menu. 'What is Charlotte Malakoff aux Fraises?' she asked.
The waiter kissed the tips of his fingers. 'Layers of almond cream, liqueur-filled sponge and fresh strawberries accompanied by Chantilly cream.'
'That's for me!'
Matt eyed her with amusement. 'You're incredible! It must be your appetite that I like most about you!'
'Can't I tempt you to a little?' she asked.
'A little of what?'
'Layers of almond cream, liqueur-filled sponge and fresh strawberries accompanied by Chantilly cream!'
His laugh was spontaneous. 'You're never short of an answer, are you?' she asked.
'Not to that particular question. I'm asked it too many times.'
'Do you always give the same answer?'
'I promise not to repeat myself, then,' he said.
'I bet you don't mean that?'
'You bet right!'
'You play so hard, I'm surprised you find time to do any work.'
'By managing to combine the two.' He smiled at her expression. 'For example, I'll be joining you and your brother when you go down to France. This kind of mail order is a new venture and I want to supervise it myself until it gets off the ground.'
Caroline's heart seemed to skip a beat, and she was not sure whether to be pleased or sorry.
'I can't ever imagine you delegating your work.'
'I assure you I
'What a lovely idea!'
'I knew you'd think so. I'll call for you at eight-thirty.'
'You must let me know what happens,' said Jane, coming out of the bedroom as Caroline put down the telephone. 'It's just my luck to move out at a time like this.'
'I hope I've shown Matt Bishop that it's not his luck,' Caroline said as she kissed her friend goodbye, and tried not to feel regret that Jane was finally leaving. She would miss her companionship, but would soon appreciate having the flat to herself.
She tried to feel calm about the evening ahead, but as it drew near she could not stop the excitement mounting in her. Be careful, she warned herself. The fact that Matt apologised doesn't mean he won't try again.
To prove to herself that he was unimportant to her she dressed casually in a pink cashmere two-piece, and settled herself on the couch to wait. In a few minutes she was fast asleep.
She was awakened by the blasting of a horn, and hurried to the window to see Matt's car below. He was on time again. She ran down the steps and he greeted her with a smile.
He was dressed casually too, in a light grey suit and a blue shirt. His eyes were glinting with humour and for the first time she noticed the colour; brown with gold flecks in them. He had short lashes, but they were thick like his hair.
'I decided not to risk coming up to call for you,' he said.
'Is that an admission of defeat or good tactics?'
'Both. I believe in biding my time.'
'You didn't bide it very long last night.'
'More fool me,' he said. 'But you're so beautiful you made me lose my head.'
Caroline did not believe that a man of his experience could not control himself, and knew he was mouthing words he did not mean. He wanted her, and had not seen any reason to pretend otherwise. But now he had learned his lesson and would be wary how he treated her.
'You'd better have hot milk tonight instead of champagne. It will cool your ardour,' she said.
'I'll keep off oysters too,' he shot her a quick glance. 'I thought we'd go to Maidenhead. I know a wonderful place on the river.'
'As long as you don't give me a reason to push you in!'
'Don't you trust me?' he asked plaintively, and without waiting for an answer set the car in motion.
The restaurant he took her to was in a beautiful old-world mansion, and the food was excellent. As if realising Caroline had worked hard all day, Matt regaled her with amusing stories that required no response, enabling her to enjoy the delicious menu he had ordered for her.
'The only thing I didn't choose was your dessert,' he said, as the main course plates were cleared away. 'I was frightened of picking something too plain!'
She nodded seriously and studied the dessert menu. 'What is Charlotte Malakoff aux Fraises?' she asked.
The waiter kissed the tips of his fingers. 'Layers of almond cream, liqueur-filled sponge and fresh strawberries accompanied by Chantilly cream.'
'That's for me!'
Matt eyed her with amusement. 'You're incredible! It must be your appetite that I like most about you!'
'Can't I tempt you to a little?' she asked.
'A little of what?'
'Layers of almond cream, liqueur-filled sponge and fresh strawberries accompanied by Chantilly cream!'
His laugh was spontaneous. 'You're never short of an answer, are you?' she asked.
'Not to that particular question. I'm asked it too many times.'
'Do you always give the same answer?'
'I promise not to repeat myself, then,' he said.
'I bet you don't mean that?'
'You bet right!'
'You play so hard, I'm surprised you find time to do any work.'
'By managing to combine the two.' He smiled at her expression. 'For example, I'll be joining you and your brother when you go down to France. This kind of mail order is a new venture and I want to supervise it myself until it gets off the ground.'
Caroline's heart seemed to skip a beat, and she was not sure whether to be pleased or sorry.
'I can't ever imagine you delegating your work.'
'I assure you I
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